I smell CABBAGE!!!

I smell cab-b-bage!!
*chuckles.......*
mmmm....yummy.
Its a good thing, a very good thing....
I cant remember a time that I havent made a homemade Jiggs Dinner on Cabbage Day. (a.k.a. St. Patty's Day)...Its become standard practice. Its just how we do things every St. Pattys Day, here in The Nicolls Household. And its not like there are rules that say you aren't allowed to cook Corn beef & Cabbage any other day of the year...There are no Irish Cabbage Police stopping me, or fines for cooking it the other 364 days.....

I also make gallons of green kool-aid. Its tradition. I know most people run out to the Pub & get green beer, but not me. Green Kool-Aid for me is my green beer...and it rocks. Kool-Aid rocks. Any color, but on St. Pats Day its green sugary goodness.....
(no, Im not getting paid to say that, but I should be, right? lol.......)


Wait. Hold up...there are more cabbage sniffers here than just me. There's a curious nose in the cabbage and I think she's as anxious for dinner as we all are.

I heart a homemade Jiggs Dinner, it makes my pulse skip a beat. It makes St. Pats Day a truly wonderful tradition in my family.

And I can honestly say I cook an amazing Jiggs Dinner...its what I do...
Its what my kids look forward to every year. And in order to eat my Jiggs Dinner, you MUST come wearing green....and you must enjoy the smell of cabbage.......now THAT's a rule!! ;)

Dreaming in color........

I dreamt in color last night. Soo many ideas and creative thoughts that had been suppressed because of the back pain...
Ohh, the pain-n-n-n...
Pain is such a demon....

Is my creative muse back?
It has to be...I dreamt in color last night.

It means something...we will see what that something is....

By the Hare of his Chinney Chin Chin........

When God handed out smiles almost 21 years ago, he thought of me.
Not everyone gets a chance to laugh almost every day for 21 years,
but I have.

I was nominated to be lucky enough to know my son.
To know Tim is to love Tim.
You cant help it...even though I've almost strangled
the boy and skinned him by the "hare" of his chinney chin chin...
He has managed to make me smile for over 2 decades.
I dont know how I got soo lucky, but I am truly & eternally blessed.

I was blessed x3 with all my punks.
Me thinks I am the luckiest Mom on Planet Earth.
So, If you ever get down or somehow find yourself
blue, just look at Tim in Bunny Ears and I'm sure a smile will
find its way to you too.
Count your blessings even if they come disguised ....

As rabbits ;)

Haleighs 14th Birthday........

My youngest punk turned 14 on Saturday....

I cannot believe my baby is 14. She had a totally great birthday
(pics to come) & my oldest punk turns 21 in April....*gasps*

It seems the older my punks turn, the younger I get...Ok, ok, so Im getting older, but I stopped counting this year at 39.

'Your only as old as you feel' they say....the problem is, mentally I feel 29, physically I feel 99...
But were getting that fixed...so, watch out world, here I come.............

Epidurals & herniated discs......

Im soo sorry to my blog readers, that I've been MIA.
As most of you may know, my MRI results were NOT positive.
I guess that explains all the pain.....WOW...

Ive got herniated & bulging discs from S1-L5....w/joint degeneration.
SEVERE neural foraminal narrowing on the right side, and abnormal cord signals. The nerve damage is starting to progress on the left side as well.....*Big heavy sigh*

The doctor withdrew a pocket of infection from my right hip last week, and they can NOT get a reflex from the rt. leg anymore.
The signal from my brain to my spinal cord to the leg is a little confused, sending the wrong signals. Its very frustrating.
Its soo weird to sit on the edge of the table, and watch them try to get a reflex, and the leg just sits there like a fish out of water....ugh.
So, my days are beginning to consist of Neurologists & Anesthesiologists.....

They are going to do a series of 3 Epidurals into my Spine & we will be discussing surgical options in the next few weeks. Im really hoping the Epidurals will help ease the nerve pain, and I can get back to life as normal.

Ive thought of all my readers often, I just cant sit or stand in any one position for long, so it really affects what Im able to do.
I am hopeful the epidurals will work, and the surgery will be effective.
Thank you to all who are soo devoted to The BeedzNest Blog.
Your prayers & positive vibes are soo appreciated during this difficult time.

Mother Nature Dumps....

Mother Nature Dumped and IS Dumping, lots of the fluffy white stuff today!! Which translates to no school and not having to come up with good excuses as to why you never got dressed today.
I love pajama day and Mother Nature definately came thru.

Did you know that if you peer thru frozen ice droplets, they magnify their surroundings? I guess its sort of like reflecting, you never know what you might see or find. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. But always interesting....
Mother Nature is the perfect Storm.....

Unless She dumps 100ft. of snow, like She is today. But I love snow.

I really love snow. Unless Im forced to dig my car out, well, then I really love snow. And pajama day translates to leaving the car snowed in.

Speaking of dumping & Mother Nature, this chair is taking an Icicle Dump, how funny is that?

I know, I know...."Only YOU would notice something like that." Gives more meaning to Mother Nature DUMPING doesnt it?

Mak'n Babies....

Im not hiding, I swear....
Ive been working on a new baby for the past few days.

Click on her picture, to go to eBay, & check this little sweety out.

At only 16", she's a wee bundle of love....enjoy!

Monkey Teaser........

So, you asked what do I do when I'm not gingerly, nursing my poor back? I'm monkeying around of course...Doi!

So, without much of a post, I introduce to you, the
FIRST 2010 Monkey Baby.

When will she be done? Gosh durn, is this 20 questions??...*giggles*

My goal is to have her done by February 1st. Or January 31st, whichever comes first. I know, I not only work backwards, but I am backwards.

Must have something to do with my back....I'm sure its all relative.

So, stay tuned in Tokyo, keep abreast, because when you peep back in, you'll find a full size newborn hand sculpted monkey....or is it human?
Ahhh....I love those shades of grey...
There is no black & white in Lori's World....but thats ok.
Ive always thought imagination is more important than knowledge ....

First Snow

I love the snow. But I hate the cold. I guess the snow comes with the cold, but if I had it my way (which I dont).....I would be the girl in L.A. having snow brought in. Then I could sunbathe in my backyard & go sledding when it gets too toasty.

I know I know....we all cant have what we want....and to think, I actually grew up in Connecticut.
Snow there, was exciting, 12-18" was normal...then I move to Toledo and the city freaks out over 2"....its sorta funny watching how everyone goes into salt & shovel mode, before the snow even falls 1/2" here.
Im thinking Toledo should just go all in, and stock up on food too. *giggles & snorts*

So, as most of you know I have this ba-a-a-ad back thingy going on.
Yah, it sucks. Im not sure if the pinched nerves are whats worse, or the chronic pain.
I havent decided yet...but I will get back to you on that one.
Rest assured, oh.... I will get back to you.....I'm really good at whining like that.
I saw a Spine Surgeon this week. He used really big words, but in normal peoples terms, the curve of Scoliosis in my back has pushed a disc loose.
So....what does this mean? It means, I get to hurry up & wait for an MRI.

I keep wondering if the metal screws in my mouth, will cause the MRI machine to malfunction with my mouth gluing itself to the top chamber of the MRI thingamabobber. How funny would that be tho?
And I know your laughing, dont pretend your not....lol

Enough laughing, you only get to laugh once a day at my expense,
So, this is what 2010 brings???
Ahhh...just what I wanted, Chronic nerve/back pain.......
Happy New Year to me, and ho ho ho.
Speaking of ho's....Betha El-Shamy, where is my CAWFEE??

P.S. Happy Birthday to Hanya...!!

Happy Merry Ho Ho Ho

I cant believe its Christmas 2009.
And in One year, O months, O days, it will be Christmas again. And you know how fast that goes.
But here I am using the word 'Twas' .....
Heeheeeee....Twas....

Twas the Night before Christmas, and all thru the house, not a creature was stirring (except the dog), not even a mouse.

(There better NOT be mice around here, eeek!)
My stockings were hung by the chimney with care (I dont have a chimney, shut up!) In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be here.....(Well.....Hello fat man in the red suit, may I sit on thee lap? wink*wink)
The teenagers were nestled all snug in their beds, with threats of punishment to shut OFF the Ipods, dancing thru their heads.

Momma (I think thats me) in her kerchef and I in my cap
(wait, wait, thats me)

had just settled down for a long winters nap. (Who does that anyway?)
When out on the lawn, there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see which drunken neighbor had caused the matter.

Away to the window, I flew like a flash (I really dont move that fast, I'll pull a muscle or something traumatic), tore open the shutters & threw up the sash. (WTH is a sash?)
When what to my wondering eyes should appear?
(And, no............................... I have NOT started drinking. Yet.)
But a miniature sleigh & 8 tiny reindeer.

With a lil ol' driver, so lively & quick, I knew in a moment it had to be
St. Nick. (Alright, enough, now.
Where is the lemon & salt, with that tequila I asked for?)

Ok, ok, I'll stop....lol....please dont beg.

Christmas really IS my favorite time of year....
A time for feasting, giving, receiving, believing and magic.

Theres always a magical quality in the air around this time, I do love that. I especially love how my 20 year old son, shoddily wrapped Christmas gifts this year.

He tried to STAPLE the gift bags closed. Ahh....yes. yes.

I just smiled and reminded myself, this is why men and women are NOT created equal.
Just watch a man try to wrap gifts.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!